Eddy off the coast of southern California
GOES-15 0.63 µm visible channel images with surface wind barbs (click image to play animation)
McIDAS images of GOES-15 0.63 µm visible channel data (above; click image to play animation) showed the development of a mesoscale eddy immediately downwind of San Clemente Island off the coast of southern California on 17 February 2013. The eddy was helping to push the marine boundary layer farther inland, bringing stratus clouds and cooler temperatures to some coastal locations.
A comparison of AWIPS images of Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.64 µm visible channel and 11.45 µm IR channel data (below) revealed that cloud top IR brightness temperatures of the marine layer stratus were in the 6-7º C range (darker blue color enhancement).
Suomi NPP VIIRS 0.64 µm visible channel and 11.45 µm IR channel images
A 250-meter resolution Aqua MODIS true-color Red/Green/Blue (RGB) image from the SSEC MODIS Direct Broadcast site (below) showed the fine structure of the center of the eddy circulation.
Aqua MODIS true-color Red/Green/Blue (RGB) image